Project Overview

If you have something in your garden that you want to hide away from sight, like a water tank or hot water system, a timber screen might be the solution for you. We’ll show you the steps you need to build your screen, evenly space your pickets and how to cap it.

Step 1. Attach a plinth board for the base

You’ll need to start with a level base to support your timber screen. To make one, attach a plinth board to your frame using a nail gun. Just make sure the board is level when you attach it. You can also pack some dirt underneath the board to help you get it level.

Step 2. Dig your post holes

Step 3. Make a check-out in your vertical post

You will need to measure and cut a check-out in your load-bearing vertical post. This is so it can sit in your hole directly above your frame. Place your post in the hole and mark it at the top of the plinth. You will also need to measure the thickness of the frame you are making the cut-out for – in this case it is 50mm. Use a circular saw to make cuts down to your required thickness and then knock these out with a hammer and chisel. Then use a chisel to clean up your checkout.

Step 4. Measure and mark out the post height

Step 5. Mark out notches in post for horizontal rails

You need to use horizontal rails to support your pickets. That means you will need to make notches in your post for these rails. After deciding the heights your rails will be, mark out the notches on your post. Use an offcut from your rails to make your marks.

Step 7. Cut your post to height

Step 8. Concrete your posts in the holes

First mix your concrete, using a ratio of 5L of water per bag of quick-set concrete. Fill your hole up with the concrete making sure your posts are level and straight in their holes with a spirit level. Give the concrete 24 hours to set before you do any more work with the posts.

Step 9. Drill holes in your post

Mark your post about a third of the way up and a third of the way down for your bolts. Drill a hole through your post with a spade bit. Then with a 11mm drill bit, drill through the hole you’ve made for the bolt to go into.

Step 13. Nail railings to your posts

Using a nail gun, attach your railings to your posts. Make sure that the nails go in at a slight angle to they don’t pull straight out. You need to put in up to four nails at each notch to make sure the railing is secure enough to hold the pickets.

Step 14. Mark and drill holes in your pickets

Hold your first picket in place on the framework. Then mark two holes on the picket in the middle of each railing. Now with a countersink bit, drill holes where you marked so your screws can sit flush in the picket. Do this for all the pickets you use on the screen.

Step 15. Attach your pickets

Attach the pickets to the frame using the 50mm galvanised timber screws. After screwing in your first screw on each picket, make sure you use a spirit level to keep your pickets straight before screwing in the second screw.

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.

Follow us

Please enable JavaScript to enhance your experience on the Bunnings site.
We have detected that JavaScript has been disabled in your browser. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to enhance your experience.